Few places in
this world are truly exotic, but Zanzibar Island, 25 kilometres off the coast
of Tanzania, is one of them. Stonetown, the capital of the ‘Spice Island’ as it
is also known, is a blend of cultures, ethnicities, flavours, and history.
Everything from the food to the architecture seems to feature elements from
countries miles away The historic trading centre is fascinating and has to be
seen to be believed. Here are my favourite things to do in Stonetown.
Former capital of
the Zanzibar Sultanate, Stonetown is the main settlement of Zanzibar’s main
island Unguja. The town has a long history as a spice and slave trading centre,
dating back beyond the 19th century. Local buildings, traditions and
even food display a blend of Persian, Arab, Indian and European influences.
Despite the heat,
exploring Stonetown is best done on foot. Many of the labyrinth alleyways are
too narrow for traffic to pass along them. This turns out well for pedestrians,
as it makes strolling around the old town far more enjoyable.
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| Street scene, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
Darajani Bazaar
Zanzibar has been
a trading hub for centuries. To see a bit of real life, head to chaotic
Darajani Market. The marketis pretty full on and may be quite confronting for
the squeamish. Fish, seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables, spices, clothing and
souvenirs are sold at the street market. The market is interesting to explore.
Traders selling items they expect tourists might buy will fight for the
attention of visitors, but those selling food rarely give tourists a second
glance. Tread carefully so you don’t stamp through a traders display of fresh
meat, or squash several varieties of bananas, laid out on the ground.
Bargaining is expected and you can get souvenirs like wooden carvings and the
local sarongs (kangas for women and kikoys for men) at good prices if you
bargain. Spices are also available in large quantities, and for lower prices
than in the tourist shops.
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| Market stalls, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
Old Fort
Little remains of
the old fort, but it is interesting to see the ruined remains of the ramparts
built to protect Stonetown and its residents against the invading Portuguese in
the 17th century. Inside the crumbling walls of the former fort
there is an ampitheatre and there are a few souvenir sellers.
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| Old Fort, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
House of Wonders (Beit el Ajaib) and Palace Museum
Now in a sorry state
of disrepair after years of neglect, the House of Wonders earned its nickname
because it was the first building in Africa to have an elevator. It was also
one of the first to have electricity. Built in the 19th century as a
home for the sultan, the building provides an insight into Zanzibari and
Swahili cultures. The Palace Museum is another former palace and now displays royal
household artifacts, providing an insight into the lives of the sultans.
Old Dispensary
By contrast the
Old Dispensary, originally a hospital, is in surprisingly good nick having
been restored in the 1970s. The old building, probably the most delicately
decorated building in Stonetown, has ornately carved wooden balconies and
stained glass windows.
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| Old Dispensary, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
Livingstone House
One-time haunt of
the great explorer and medical missionary David Livingstone as well as other European
missionaries, Livingstone House is where they stayed before venturing across
the African continent. It was originally a small palace built for a sultan but
today Livingstone House is a tourist office.
St Joseph’s
Cathedral
Standing out from
the crowd, the spires of St Joseph Cathedral tower over the rest of Stonetown
and are a well-known feature of the skyline. The cathedral was built by French
missionaries in the late 19th century.
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| St Joseph's Cathedral, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
Mercury House
On the waterfront
on Kenyatta Road is Mercury House, the birthplace of Queen frontman Freddie
Mercury in 1947, and today, a waterfront restaurant displaying Freddie Mercury
photos and memorabilia. The focus is definitely on Freddie. Don’t go for the
food.
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| The Big Tree outside Mercury's, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
Big Tree
Not far from Mercury
House is the big tree which is an old and enormous tree that has become a
popular meeting place for locals, and also somewhere to wait for the ferry
which stops nearby. It is also a good shady spot for visitors to rest between sightseeing
stops.
Slave market
Historically,
Zanzibar’s other trade was slaves. Shockingly, over half a million slaves were
traded through Zanzibar in the late 1800s, mostly to Arab countries and Persia.
Zanzibar’s Slave Market is a bit light on information but visitors can see the
dungeon-like slave holding chambers and imagine the horror of being locked up
in them. There is also a memorial and an Anglican church, built as a monument
to the slaves, when slavery was abolished, on the site that hosted Zanzibar’s
largest slave market. The set-up is simple but thought-provoking, and worth a visit.
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| Night Market food stand, Stonetown, Zanzibar |
Forodhani Park
and food market
I always say the
most authentic experiences are discovered by going where the locals go. In the
evening, follow your nose to Forodhani Park on the waterfront in front of the Old
Fort. It comes alive with street food traders selling grilled fish, seafood,
meat, vegetables, naan bread and samosas. You may find it a bit alarming if
you’re a hygiene freak, but if you can get over that the Zanzibar pizza, sugar
cane juice and deep fried potato balls and beef cubes are worth a try.
Zanzibar’s blend
of Moorish, middle eastern, Indian and African traditions and architectures is
more evident in Stonetown than the smaller settlements of Zanzibar. It is no
surprise Stonetown has been UNESCO heritage listed since 2000.
Have you been?
